Air conditioner



Nov. i4, 1950 11H. GARVEY Erm.

AIR CONDITIONER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June l0, 1947 eye/ W @y PaaaVfoai'i M Nov. 14, 1950 'n'. H. GARVEY ETAL AIR CONDITIONER 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 10, 1947 Patented Nov. 14, 1950 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE AIR CONDITIONER Thomas H. Garvey, Natick, and Paul V.Scally, Randolph, Mass.

Application June 10, 1947, Serial No. 753,606

3 Claims. 1

This invention pertains to air conditioners and more particularly to adevice to wash. humidity or dehumidify air which is circulatedtherethrough.

One object of this invention is to provide a novel and efcient airconditioning unit. A further object is to provide such a unit which willefficiently wash or clean the air and which may be accurately controlledto circulate the required amount of moisture at the desired temperaturefor contact with the air,V thereby to control its moisture content. Afurther object is to provide such a unit which may be easily cleaned andwhich may be readily installed in common air circulating systems.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will bepointed out in the following more detailed description and by referenceto the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic frontelevation of a warm air furnace having combined therewith airconditioning means embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary Vertical section, to

unit removed from the casing of the conditioning apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the air conditioning element removed fromthe holder of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the frame elements and theconduit of Figs. 3 and 4 with parts broken away; v v

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on the line 3-6 of Fig. 3

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section on the line 'I-'I of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 4.

The numeral I designates a warm air furnace of conventional type havingthe fire door 2 giving access to a re box; the ash door 3; and the outercasing 4 within the lower part of which is the cold air inlet chamber 5(Fig. '1) and in the upper part of which is the plenum or airdistributing chamber 6, from which the warm air pipes 'I lead to theseveral points of use.

As here illustrated, the air conditioning apparatus which is associatedwith the furnace is arranged outside of the furnace structure, but it iscontemplated that all or certain portions, at

casing being correspondingly designed to receive it.

As here illustrated, the air conditioning system comprises a casing 8whichmay be of sheet metal or the like, having the inlet portionl 9 andthe exit portion I0, the latter being connected directly to the casing 4of the warm air furnace and providing communication between the interiorof the casing 8 and the distributing chamber 6. As illustrated, a coldair pipe II leads from the cold air inlet chamber 5 of the furnacecasing to the inlet of the air conditioning system. However, it is notnecessary that the inlet 9 be connected with the cold air chamber of thefurnace since the inlet 9 may be arranged to receive air from anysuitable source. Between the inlet 9 and the exit portion I0, the casingis enlarged to provide the conditioning chamber I2. Within this chamberand forming a substantial barrier transversely thereof is a radiator I3,preferably of conventional automobile type, having a multitude ofhorizontal air passages I4 and a large number of small vertical tubes I5connecting a chamber I6 in the upper part of the radiator structure witha similar chamber in the lower part of the radiator structure, the tubesand these chambers forming cavities for the reception of liquid which isin effective heat exchange relation to the air passing through thehorizontal passages I4.

Within the re box of the warm air furnace or so located as to be exposedto the heat of the re in the fire box, or to radiation from the firebox, there is arranged a liquid heating device I'I, here illustrated asa simple coil of pipe. How-, ever, other types of liquid heating meansmay be used. The delivery end of this coil I'I or equivalent heatingmeans is connected to a pipe I8, while the inlet of the coil I1 isconnected to a pipe I9, these pipes extending out through the casing 4.The pipe I8 is connected to a fitting 20 to one arm of which there isattached a safety valve device 2|. To another arm of this fitting thereis connected a supply pipe 22 coming from any suitable source of waterat supply pressure, and from another arm of the fitting 20 a nipple 23extends downwardly into the top of the radia- 1701' I3.

The pipe I9 leads to a T-itting 24 from which a nipple 25 extendsupwardly to the lower part of the radiator I3. There is thus establisheda continuous path for liquid to circulate through ythe v heater deviceI'I and the liquid receiving cavities least, of this air conditioningapparatus may be arranged within the furnace casing if desired, the

of the radiator.

Within the exit portion I9 of theY conditioning casing, there isarranged a transverse vertical sheet of fora-minous material 26,preferably made of wire mesh fabric or or" an open mesh textilematerial. Just above this screen there is arranged a distributing pipe2l having drip openings 2la, from which water or other liquid may bedelivered onto the upper portion of the screen 26 s0 as to ow down overthe screen in a very thin film to be easily absorbed by air passingthrough the interstices of the screen. A supply pipe 28 brings water orother fluid to the distributing pipe 2l, the pipe 28 having one endconnected to a T-i'ltting 2S and its other end connected to the union28a. The pipe 30 affords a communication between the T-ntting 29 andthecold water supply, this pipe being provided with a valve 33a by whichthe amount of cold water passing through the pipe Sil to thedistributing pipe 2'! may be controlled. Another pipe 3l is connected tothe T-tting 29 and to the T-tting 24 and is designed to receive warmwater Vfrom the nipple so that when desired warm water may A-be suppliedto the screen '26 vinstead of Ycold water. The pipe 3l is provided witha valve 31a whichisV operative to control the amount of warm waterpassing through the pipe "3l to the distributing pipeZ-l. l

1 fImmediate/lybelow the screen' there isprovide'd fa-collecting troughV32, U-shapedin cresssection, :designed to receive any moisture whichmaydripfrom thelower edge of the screen. A drain pipe 33 leads from thistrough to any desired point. The claims relate to the'foraminousmaterial 226, the distributing pipe 2l and other vassociated parts whichwill bedescribed in more detailhereafter.

'Within the exit portion I@ of the casing there 'preferably arranged aseries vof air guiding louvres '34 which maybe adjustable, if-desired,or which may be xe'd atan angle found experimentally to give :the 'bestresults in the particular installation'. These louvres tend to smoothout--eddies'in the flowing air andto provide a smoothly flowing streamWhere the air enters the distributing chamber 6 of the furnace.illustrated, they are so arranged as to direct the air upwardly where itenters the distributing chamber so that the ow of air into the pipes "l-is lfacilitated.

"Vfhile the apparatus may depend upon gravity flow-of air forcirculation or upon the employment of a fan located-at some-other pointin the lheating system, itis preferred `to provide a support 3'5withinthe casing 8 and to mountthereon a 'motor 36, driving -a fan 31 soAarranged as to draw in air-through the inlet 9 andto deliver it in asubstantially horizontal stream to flow through thefpassages Miofthe'radiator I3.

' l.-lframe assembly Vf'orthe sheet of foraminous material 26 isprovided by a metal tube which isbent to-provide side'frame members andil and a bottom lframe member 152. The top frame member 33 of'thisassembly has its ends secured to the upper ends of the side framemembers 4D and-4|. One end portion i3d is provided with apassage whichis adapted loosely to receive the distributing pipe 21. Itsopposite end43h is provided With a socket which is adapted loosely to receive theclosed endvof the .distributing pipe 2l.

The sheet of Iforaminous material ,26 is secured to the frameassembly'by wrapping its sides and ends around--theframe members 4G, tl, e2 and @3 and then 4securing them by a strandof wire or othersuitable material-44 to the main body portion of the sheet, the cornersof the sheet being notched at 45a.

Thus a passage having an opening at one end is provided bythe bore ofend portion 43a, the frame member 43, the socket in the end portion 43hand the loop 26a. (Fig. '7) of foraminous material which is formed atthe top of the sheet of foraminous material. By manipulation of theunion 28a, the pipes 2 and 28 -are separated and the distributor pipe 21may then be withdrawn by sliding it longitudinally of the passage. Thispermits cleaning of the orifices 21a cr replacement of the distributorpipe by a new one.

The frame assembly Gil, lil, l2 and i3 is removably supported in aholder frame formed by 'the trough 32, the holder side frame members 45and i6 andthe holder top frame member 4l. The

v'lowerends of the holder side frame members are secured to the trough32 by soldering, welding or any other appropriate means to formwater-tight endsfor the trough. The nipple i9 is secured to the `member46 and is detachably secured to the outlet pipe 33 by a union 5B. Theholder top -franre'rmeniber 4l fis 'detahably secured to the upper-endsof the sidemembers'llS fand-d6, for example, by the resiliency 'of itsside walls.

The trough 32 and holder frame membersfli, l5 `and tll vareeahriU-shaped in cross-section and they .receive-and' enclose fthe'frame assembly 6B, 41,1542 and '43. By removing the holder top framemember rlil, the `resultant YU -shaped holder frame 45, 32 and 46 maybecompletely removed from the firame fior the r`foraminous material.

The 4portion IQ of the 'casing is provided with a -slot15llwhichisadapted te receive the helder frame assembly 132, '545, `i6 and4l. A channel member 52 (Fig. 2) communicates with the lower end of thisslot and another Achannel member 53 communicates Awith the upper endthereof.-

Thus-the holder 'frame assembly with the frame for =theforaminous-material in place therein may be slid inwardly through theslotI toits vertical position wherein the foraminous sheet 26 eX- tendsVtransversely of -the portion in of the casing andit may be removed bysliding it Voutwardly through the slot.

@peratio'n In operation thesheet of foraminous material maybe utiliedeither .to add moisture to .the air or toremove ,moisture Yfrom.the air.To remove moisture 'from the air, the water or other 'fluid supplied ,tothe distributor 4pipe 2l' is provided with atemperature which is belowthe temperatureof the air whichris being ,circulated through the casingI0. ,To add v:moisture to theair, the water or other fluid supplied '.tothe .,pipe21 `has a temperature whichis `above vthe temperatureof theair circulated through the conduit l0. .When the ktemperature of Athewater .lor other fluid is lower than *the air, it causes moisture in thewarmer air to condense `and to flow down the screen 26 and accumulate in`the 'trough 32 from Which ,it passes outwardly through Vthe pipes 49and .3 3 to a drain. When the Water supplied to the ypipe 2l is thesametemperature as or warmer than the air, the air takes up moisturefrom the lm of moisture on the screen 26. The temperature of 'the wateror Vother iluid supplied to the pipe 21 may be controlled by appropriateadjustment of the valves 30a and 31a, or if desired, by varying thetemperature of the water Ysupplied to either the pipe 30 lor the pipe3|.

In operation the fan 31 continuously blows va streamer air .through thevsheet of `foraminous material 2E Vand thence Ythrough the conduit I to,the distributing points. .The distributing Y.pipe

2l continuously supplies liquid to the upper portion of the sheet offoraminous material 26 and the liquid iiows by gravity downwardly alongthe foraminous material. Any liquid which is not consumed. by the airpassing through the foraminous material is .collected in the trough 32and passes outwardly through the pipes 49 and 33 to the drain. The lm ofwater may be utilized not only to control the amount of moisture in theair but it also washes the air and removes dirt and dust from it. The lmof water tends to carry this dust and dirt downwardly to the trough 32.l Y

Preferably the valves 30a and 31al are adjusted to provide a very thinfilm of water on the screen of foraminous material 26. The screen may becleaned at intervals by increasing the flow of water or other fluid fromthe pipe 21, thereby washing any accumulations of dust or dirtdownwardly into the trough 32.

The unit may be removed from the portion l of the casing by releasingthe union couplings 28a and 50 and then sliding the holder frameassembly outwardly from the casing through the slot I. The frame for theforaminous material may be removed from the holder frame assembly bylifting the holder top frame member 21 upwardly away from the sidemembers 45, 46 and then sliding the foraminous material frame member 4B,4|, 42, 43 outwardly through the open end of the holder frame assembly.The distributor pipe 21 may then be removed by sliding it outwardlythrough the passage which is formed at the top of the foraminousmaterial frame assembly. The unit may be re-assembled by reinserting thedistributor pipe 21 in the passage, sliding the foraminous materialframe assembly into the U-shaped holder frame assembly, placing theholder frame top member upon the upper ends of the side members 45, 46,sliding the assembly inwardly through the slot 5I and re-coupling thepipes 49 and 2'! to the pipes 33 and 28, respectively.

While the apparatus has been illustrated in association with a hot airfurnace, it may be associated with any air circulating system withoutdeparting from the scope of this invention. For example, the apparatusmay be utilized to cool warm air in the summer and in such use, it maybe utilized either to add moisture to or remove moisture from the air.

While we have disclosed the use of water, other fluids may be utilized.For example, fluids which remove moisture from the air at roomtemperature may be substituted for water, if desired.

It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that we have provideda novel and eiicient air conditioning unit which will e'ciently wash orclean4 air circulated therethrough, which may be utilized to addmoisture to or remove moisture from the air, which may be readilydisassembled for repair and cleaning and which may be readily installedin a common air circulating system.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending applicationSerial No. 620,960, led October 8, 1945, entitled Air Heating andHumidifying Apparatus, now Patent No. 2,424,927.

While one desirable embodiment of the invention has been illustrated byway of example, it is to be understood that the invention is broadlyinclusive of any and all modifications falling within the scope of theappended claims.

We claim:

1. An air conditioner comprising a substan- 6 tially rectangular screenframe assembly having side, top and bottomscreen frame members and asheet of foraminous material substantially bridging the gap ybetweensaid screen frame members and having its sides and ends securedrespectively to said screen frame members, a longitudinal passage formedin said top screen frame member, extending substantially between theside screen frame members adjacent the tops thereof and outwardlytransversely of the upper portion of at least one of said side framemembers to provide an opening for said passage in one outer side wall ofthe frame assembly, a conduit detachably mounted in said passage andextending outwardly of the frame assembly through said opening, saidconduit being provided with a series of perforations through which aliquid may flow to said sheet of foraminous material, and means fordetachably connecting said conduit to a source of liquid, whereby saidconduit may be removed from said longitudinal passage by withdrawing itthrough said opening and without removing the foraminous material fromthe screen frame members.

2. An air conditioner comprising a substantially rectangular screenframe assembly having side, top and bottom screen frame members and asheet of foraminous material substantially bridging the gap between saidscreen frame members and having its sides and ends secured respectivelyto said screen frame members, a conduit extending substantially betweenthe side screen frame members adjacent to the top of said sheet offoraminous material, said conduit being provided with a series ofperforations through which a liquid may ow to said sheet of foraminousmaterial, means for detachably connecting said conduit to a source ofliquid, a trough, U-shaped in cross section with its side wallssubstantially higher than the height of said bottom screen frame member,whereby when the bottom screen frame member is supported on the bottomof the trough a space is provided in said trough above said screen framemember for the accumulation of liquid from the foraminous material, twoside holder frame members extending upwardly from said trough, one ateach end thereof, said side holder frame members being U-shaped in crosssection, the trough and side holder frame members being secured togetherat their adjacent ends to form a U-shaped holder frame for detachablysupporting said rectangular screen frame assembly, and a conduitcommunicating with the interior of said trough for conducting awayliquid which accumulates therein from the foraminous material.

3. In an air conditioner comprising a substantially rectangular screenframe assembly having side, top and bottom screen frame members and asheet of foraminous material substantially bridging the gap between saidscreen frame members and having its sides and ends secured respectivelyto said screen frame members, a conduit extending substantially betweenthe side screen frame members adjacent to the top of said sheet offoraminous material, said conduit being provided with a series ofperforations through which a liquid may flow to said sheet of foraminousmaterial, and means for detachably connecting said conduit to a sourceof liquid, and a holder frame assembly comprising a bottom holder framemember, U-shaped in cross section, for detachably receiving andsupporting the bottom screen frame member and forming a, trough for theaccumulation of liquid from the foram- .inous .materaL vand. two SideYholder Yframe members .extending upwardlyrom said bottom framemember,.one at each end thereof, said sde'holder frarne members beingU-shaped in cross section for detachably receiving and retaining therespective side screen frame members, whereby 'the screen frame assemblymay be removed upwardly asa unit from the'holder frame assembly.

THOMAS H. GARVEY. PAUL V. SCALLY.

'REFERENCES CITED The -followimg yreferences are of record in the le .ofAthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 10 Number Name :Date v.Dressler Apr. 10,1923 `Siday Apr. 21, 1925 Patrick July 21, 1931 Feinberg May 21, 1940Mi1ar Nov. 5, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Jan.5,1854 VGreat 'Britain May 12, 1910 Australia Apr. .6, -1'942

